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I just finished a week of exploratory
heliskiing just east and north of Waddington. We skied from the Nuit's in the
East to the Queen Bess icefields in the south and the Klina Klini River Valley
in the Northwest.
Glacier conditions are generally excellent for this
time of year. Last summers poor weather has left a decent old snowpack on the
glaciers. This years moderately big snows and lack of strong Katabatic winds
means the winters icefields snowpack is quite strong and there is good
coverage at the toes of the big icefields.
Of note also, cornices don't seem dramatically huge
and this is backed up by reports of lots of strong reverse
winds.
Had a look at the Bravo and Angel glaciers from the
Pacific Coastal flight and some somewhat backlit views while skiing. (at a
respectful distance away from the mighty and sacred Wadd) Both times the
light wasn't absolutely perfect but I thought both those glaciers looked a
little more rugged than I remember. They looked passable but like they would put
up a good fight! So they should, it is Mt. Waddington after all!
Larry Stanier
Mountain Guide
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